Morehead City

Ecosystem Overview

The Morehead City ecosystem supports 13 documented wildlife species across 13 taxonomic genera. Located in Carteret County, North Carolina, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 3 frequently observed species and 2 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Beaufort nearby has 72% more documented species, Morehead City offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #8 for species diversity among 12 Carteret County County natural areas, placing it in the 33th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 12 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common4 species

Occasional4 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#8 of 12 locations

33th percentile for diversity

vs. Beaufort

-72% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 13 total documented species.

Leucospilapteryx venustella

Very Common1 obs.

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Very Common1 obs.

Arenaria interpres

ruddy turnstone

Very Common1 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common1 obs.

Quercus virginiana

Southern Live Oak

Very Common1 obs.

Medicago lupulina

Black medick

Common1 obs.

Melilotus albus

white melilot

Common1 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Common1 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common1 obs.

Achillea millefolium

yarrow, milfoil

Common1 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common1 obs.

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Carpenter Ant

Occasional1 obs.

Homaledra octagonella

Occasional1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Morehead City. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-78%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Carteret County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Beaufort

Importance: 0.42

47 species

-72% vs. current

Carteret County

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-87% vs. current

Patsy Pond

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+86% vs. current

Lily Pond

Importance: 0.35

6 species

+117% vs. current

Atlantic Beach

Importance: 0.30

79 species

-84% vs. current

Newport

Importance: 0.29

28 species

-54% vs. current

Emerald Isle

Importance: 0.29

100 species

-87% vs. current

Pine Knoll Shores

Importance: 0.27

100 species

-87% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Carteret County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-78%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Carteret County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Beaufort

Importance: 0.42

47 species

-72% vs. current

Carteret County

Importance: 0.41

100 species

-87% vs. current

Patsy Pond

Importance: 0.35

7 species

+86% vs. current

Lily Pond

Importance: 0.35

6 species

+117% vs. current

Atlantic Beach

Importance: 0.30

79 species

-84% vs. current

Newport

Importance: 0.29

28 species

-54% vs. current

Emerald Isle

Importance: 0.29

100 species

-87% vs. current

Pine Knoll Shores

Importance: 0.27

100 species

-87% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 12 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common4 species

Occasional4 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#8 of 12 locations

33th percentile for diversity

vs. Beaufort

-72% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 13 total documented species.

Leucospilapteryx venustella

Very Common1 obs.

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Very Common1 obs.

Arenaria interpres

ruddy turnstone

Very Common1 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common1 obs.

Quercus virginiana

Southern Live Oak

Very Common1 obs.

Medicago lupulina

Black medick

Common1 obs.

Melilotus albus

white melilot

Common1 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Common1 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common1 obs.

Achillea millefolium

yarrow, milfoil

Common1 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common1 obs.

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Carpenter Ant

Occasional1 obs.

Homaledra octagonella

Occasional1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 13 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.